Ghana’s flag was flown with immense pride and distinction at the just-ended Enactus World Cup 2025, as the national champion team from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) secured a coveted place in the competition’s Top 16.
The impressive feat, which places Ghana among the world’s elite in student-led social entrepreneurship, was achieved in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 25 to 28, where 32 national champion teams converged.
The Ghanaian delegation, brimming with confidence, showcased innovative projects that transformed common agricultural waste into solutions for sanitation, health, and environmental sustainability, earning the admiration of the global audience.
World stage
The Enactus KNUST team presented three ventures that were central to their stellar performance.
Their AGRIMAKE initiative addresses the twin challenges of plastic pollution and soil degradation by producing eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging materials and organic fertilisers from plantain stems.
Another venture, SUNAWASH, promotes hygiene and a circular economy by converting waste from plantains, such as peels and peduncles, into medicated and laundry soap bars.
Meanwhile, their PEELLNOVA project offers a creative public health intervention by repurposing fruit waste into affordable mosquito-repelling products, aimed at reducing malaria incidence and environmental pollution.
These projects, which align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrated the practical application of academic knowledge to solving pressing community challenges.
Delegation
The team was supported by a high-profile delegation led by Tetse Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, Nungua Mankralo Shuonotalo and Board Member of Enactus Ghana, and Evans Hokey, Programmes Director of Enactus Ghana.
They were joined by senior academics from KNUST, including the Provost, Prof. Charles Ofosu Marfo, and the Dean of the Business School, Prof. Ahmed Agyapong.
The student innovators, led by their Team President, Success Baba Peters, alongside project heads and IT coordinators, displayed remarkable technical and business acumen throughout the intense competition.
National pride
The team’s success in Bangkok is seen as a significant milestone for Ghana’s higher education and innovation landscape. It underscores the potent role of youth-led innovation in addressing national development priorities and positions Ghana as a rising force in social entrepreneurship on the African continent.
In a statement, Enactus Ghana said the achievement “serves as an inspiration for other universities and young entrepreneurs across the country.”
With the curtains drawn on the 2025 World Cup, attention now shifts to São Paulo, Brazil, host of the 2026 edition. Enactus Ghana has already pledged to build on this success, aiming for an even stronger performance next year through enhanced capacity-building and strategic partnerships.
Participating nations
The Enactus World Cup 2025 featured national champion teams from 32 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the host nation, Thailand.
